Pulse Poll

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Get closer to the this season by using Pulse while you watch the LIVE matches. Pulse asks you a range of questions relevant to the LIVE action as it unfolds. Your votes will be featured in the telecast in real-time and debated by the commentators, players and stars. If you've got a great question of your own, we'd love to hear it.

I am very lucky: Chipli

A top-order bat, Bharat Chipli has been scoring consistently in the domestic circuit since his first-class debut in 2005. His good performances earned him a place in the coveted IPL.

Turning out for the Deccan Chargers once again in IPL 2012, Chipli feels that playing alongside and against international players boosts the confidence of cricketers who have had little or no international exposure. He adds that the little tips shared by veterans like skipper Kumar Sangakkara and coach Darren Lehmann and sharing dressing room space with big stars gives a player insight into how the game is played at the international level.

Excerpts from Chipli’s brief interaction with iplt20.com before DC’s clash with the Rajasthan Royals on April 17:On the journey that has helped him reach where he is today

I am very lucky to have been playing [cricket and get] whatever I have achieved till now. Hard work does lead to success and that’s what it did. [When] I started playing cricket, I never thought of playing [something] like the IPL or Ranji cricket. I like cricket, and I just wanted to play it [and] that’s how I started. Then slowly I started scoring runs and enjoying the game more. I like batting, so I wanted to bat more, so that’s how I got runs and ended up here. On captain Kumar Sangakkara and his advice

[He hasn’t suggested any] major changes as such. Whenever you need him, he is there [to help] and [talks about] simple stuff like basically not hitting the ball too hard [and] looking for gaps [and] this kind of basic stuff. [He talks about] mental stuff also, and tells us to believe in ourselves and bat the way I always do.

On his natural game

Caution with aggression. I can say that because I can clear the boundaries. I just need to know when I should hit and bat more freely. On how playing in the IPL

It probably gives you a lot of confidence [does] playing in the IPL, [because] scoring here will give you a lot of confidence [since you are also playing against international cricketers]. [It will also] keep you in a good frame of mind, where in you time the ball well and your mindset is right. You will have the confidence having played with the big stars and scored against them. So the confidence will always be there, which will help you in your first-class cricket. On how playing with the likes of Dale Steyn in the nets helps him improve his game

The quality of cricket is higher here, so obviously [your cricket] is going to improve. You learn from them little things like the discipline part to the way how they play cricket, and even batting against them [the likes of], against Dale Steyn you are bound to improve. On coach Darren Lehman

I am very pleased with him because of the way he handles the side, [and] the discipline [that he has brought in]. [...] I am learning a lot from him and he is always positive, which is a very good thing for us. He will always back you in whatever you do. He doesn’t say anything [negative] or criticize, which is a very good thing. It is a learning process and you are learning a lot. He doesn’t say much about the game, he just asked me to bat the way I always do; be positive and back my abilities. On the Twenty20 format

I like the T20 format. Ranji Trophy [the longer format of the game] is more challenging [and] you need more focus in it. But T20 is where you need a lot of self belief that you can do it. I think my game is more suited to T20 and one-day cricket then the Ranji Trophy [longer] format.

Quick Stats: Match 18 – RCB v RR

1 Ajinkya Rahane became the first player to score a century (103*) in IPL 2012 and the 17th player overall to score a century in the IPL. The 103* by Rahane is the 19th three-figure innings in IPL history – Adam Gilchrist and Christ Gayle have scored two centuries each.

2 Number of times Vinay Kumar has conceded 50-plus runs in IPL 2012. He had conceded 53 runs against Chennai Super Kings at Chennai on April 12.

5 Number of bowlers to have bowled a maiden in IPL 2012. Zaheer Khan joined Lasith Malinga, Siddharth Trivedi, L Balaji and Dale Steyn in achieving this feat.

6 Number of batsmen who got out bowled in RCB’s innings – the highest number of such dismissals in an innings in IPL. The previous record was of five dismissals shared by Mumbai Indians (v Kings XI Punjab, Mohali, 2010) and Rajasthan Royals (v Mumbai Indians, Kolkata, 2011).

6 Boundaries hit by Rahane off each ball of Sreenath Aravind’s third over (14th of the innings).

11 Number of sixes hit by Owais Shah in IPL 2012 – the most by any batsman. He went past Faf du Plessis’ tally of 10 sixes.

19 Number of balls taken by Owais Shah to reach his fifty – the fastest in IPL 2012.

121 Runs added by Ajinkya Rahane and Owais Shah for the second wicket – the highest partnership for any wicket in IPL 2012, surpassing the 109-run stand between Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Chennai Super Kings at Chennai on April 12.260 Runs scored by Rahane in IPL 2012 – the most by any batsman.